PSYCHOSIS Flashcards
what is psychosis?
fundamental and characteristic distortions of thinking and perception, and by inappropriate or blunted affect
clear consciousness and intellectual capacity are usually maintained
what are some causes of psychosis?
premature births, unwanted pregnancy, maternal influencza, rubella, malnutrition, obstetric complications, low birth weight, hypoxia, structural brain abnormalities, late milestones in early childhood, life events, stress, substance abuse, tumours, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, infections, medications
what is the dopamine hypothesis of psychosis?
When individuals are acutely psychotic, they show an excessive striatal release of dopamine
Excessive dopamine release leads to aberrant assignment of salience
Delusions may arise from attempts to explain this abnormal salience
what is the cumulative risk hypothesis?
that health problems are caused by the accumulation of risk factors
what are some treatment approaches for psychosis?
antipsychotics, family therapy, CBT, employment/education support, lifestyle interventions
what are the main side effects of antipsychotics?
sedation, weight gain, involuntary movements, hyperprolactinaemia
what was psychosis called traditionally?
schizophrenia
